dfuller299
Registered
Hi everyone,
Fairly new to the board and finally OW certified. I wanted to jump in though and propose a question - one with a little bit of backstory though to make things clear.
When doing my OW checkouts, it was common for me to be fitted with Steel 80s. While they would work fine and give me tons of air, they are also well, huge on me as I'm barely 5'. I had been reading more into equipment that I wanted to purchase myself to move beyond the basics I grabbed from friends when doing my course (an 80s era 3/2 suit and yellow Cressi fins). It was this thought that, in combination with learning and doing a lot more diving that the idea came to me.
I had seen quite a few dual-tank manifolds online and even a couple at the local scuba store. The idea was since that giant tanks are huge on me, why not take a few smaller ones and put them together? The same idea as a dual manifold but with 20s or something very portable and "easier" to handle. I know people don't dive "for looks" but I was just thinking there has to be a more compact way. I'm not saying to dive on pony bottles. Obviously that's not recommended as that's for emergency use. But unless I'm understanding volume wrongly, four small or one large tank should give you roughly the same amount of air, right?
Now with that being put out there I want to state a few things:
1. I'm still a newbie. This idea, while something I do want to actively pursue is a side project along with wanting to learn more diving and start taking some advanced classes such as for photography. I'll still probably pick up my stuff at the local shop, do a ton of various dives with DMs I've met and befriended and all that first. This is just an extra idea.
2. While I'd like to think I very thoroughly think things through in planning and construction with mechanics, I'm not an engineer. I'm not sure how the manifold would be built without overpressuring the central bar. I made a couple rudimentary shoops of the concept but I'm not sure how well it'd work in reality. Would something like this even be doable?
3. Other members I've talked to about the idea privately have suggested I first learn more about diving. I wholly intend to do this of course and this manifold thing is not something I'm just looking to do in a year, or two, or three, even if it's "easy" to build. I like taking my time with the things I do to do them correctly and not be rushed. Not trying to cause any offense but I think it is easier to look at a crazy idea and think of it as being insensible and not approached with a calm and collective "let's make this work" demeanor. At the moment I'm just not seeing anything out there designed for us smaller people and wanted to present a concept.
4. I've yet to work out my breathing rate but at the moment I'm certified for (40' so far), I suppose again it is a question of how much air and bottom time I'd like (like anyone, a lot), and how deep I want to learn how to go. The thread explaining that there is plenty even within 40' of depth to view when you're in the right places is intriguing.
For this concept I would envision diving no deeper than 40' anyway; perhaps even less if the water was ideal.
----------------
Thanks again to anyone having insight to post replies. Like everyone else, we all start new and I know I still have plenty to learn.
Fairly new to the board and finally OW certified. I wanted to jump in though and propose a question - one with a little bit of backstory though to make things clear.
When doing my OW checkouts, it was common for me to be fitted with Steel 80s. While they would work fine and give me tons of air, they are also well, huge on me as I'm barely 5'. I had been reading more into equipment that I wanted to purchase myself to move beyond the basics I grabbed from friends when doing my course (an 80s era 3/2 suit and yellow Cressi fins). It was this thought that, in combination with learning and doing a lot more diving that the idea came to me.
I had seen quite a few dual-tank manifolds online and even a couple at the local scuba store. The idea was since that giant tanks are huge on me, why not take a few smaller ones and put them together? The same idea as a dual manifold but with 20s or something very portable and "easier" to handle. I know people don't dive "for looks" but I was just thinking there has to be a more compact way. I'm not saying to dive on pony bottles. Obviously that's not recommended as that's for emergency use. But unless I'm understanding volume wrongly, four small or one large tank should give you roughly the same amount of air, right?
Now with that being put out there I want to state a few things:
1. I'm still a newbie. This idea, while something I do want to actively pursue is a side project along with wanting to learn more diving and start taking some advanced classes such as for photography. I'll still probably pick up my stuff at the local shop, do a ton of various dives with DMs I've met and befriended and all that first. This is just an extra idea.
2. While I'd like to think I very thoroughly think things through in planning and construction with mechanics, I'm not an engineer. I'm not sure how the manifold would be built without overpressuring the central bar. I made a couple rudimentary shoops of the concept but I'm not sure how well it'd work in reality. Would something like this even be doable?
3. Other members I've talked to about the idea privately have suggested I first learn more about diving. I wholly intend to do this of course and this manifold thing is not something I'm just looking to do in a year, or two, or three, even if it's "easy" to build. I like taking my time with the things I do to do them correctly and not be rushed. Not trying to cause any offense but I think it is easier to look at a crazy idea and think of it as being insensible and not approached with a calm and collective "let's make this work" demeanor. At the moment I'm just not seeing anything out there designed for us smaller people and wanted to present a concept.
4. I've yet to work out my breathing rate but at the moment I'm certified for (40' so far), I suppose again it is a question of how much air and bottom time I'd like (like anyone, a lot), and how deep I want to learn how to go. The thread explaining that there is plenty even within 40' of depth to view when you're in the right places is intriguing.
For this concept I would envision diving no deeper than 40' anyway; perhaps even less if the water was ideal.
----------------
Thanks again to anyone having insight to post replies. Like everyone else, we all start new and I know I still have plenty to learn.
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